Trial work has begun in a high-priority SRA project to identify an effective and affordable knockdown grass control strategy to replace paraquat, if it’s withdrawn from use by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

The APVMA is expected to make a final regulatory decision on the agrichemical’s future use in the sugarcane industry by mid-2026. The regulatory body was due to hand down this decision in December 2025, but extended the deadline to consider a new review published by the US Environmental Protection Agency on 30 October 2025, related to the “Volatilisation Potential of Paraquat from Field Uses”.

To ensure the Australian sugar industry is on the front foot, SRA’s Weed Science Leader, Emilie Fillols (pictured above), has begun glasshouse trials to identify cost-effective alternative herbicide combinations that are effective for knockdown grass control and safe for sugarcane crops. Ms Fillols will soon be looking for field sites in the Far North and the Burdekin region to carry out field trials and demonstrations.

Ms Fillols will revisit the effectiveness of existing chemicals and potential new actives entering the market, trialling them alone and in combinations.

Once effective and affordable alternative control methods are identified, workshops will be held across all major sugarcane growing regions to communicate the new integrated weed management guidelines, including spray application rates and timings, so that industry is prepared in the event paraquat is withdrawn by the APVMA.

Data from the trials will be provided to collaborating agrochemical companies, to support new product registration applications or to support specific-use permits.

Project 2025/002 – Paraquat alternatives – Re-develop Integrated Weed Management in Australian Sugarcane without Paraquat is funded by Sugar Research Australia (SRA).